Safety closure assembly for capping a dispensing container

ABSTRACT

A safety closure assembly is disclosed for capping a container equipped with reciprocating dispensing means including an actuating stem projecting out of one end of the container, and for operating the dispensing means. Performance of multiple functions is a requisite to operation of the dispensing means by this closure assembly which includes an overcap, an actuator associated with the overcap and having a keying element, a locking member in the overcap and urged to a locking position, a cam adapted to be non-rotatively mounted on the container for operating the locking member, and a collar having complementary keying element. The locking member, the actuator and the collar cooperate to render the assembly inoperative until the locking member is moved radially outwardly away from its locking position by coaction with the cam and, subsequently, until the overcap is rotated relative to the container until the collar and actuator keying elements are aligned. The locking member is cocked in a non-locking position by a latch and catch arrangement upon relative rotation of the cap and container, but is restored to its locking position each time the actuator is operated.

United States Patent [191 Starrett 1 Dec.9, 1975 SAFETY CLOSURE ASSEMBLYFOR CAPPING A DISPENSING CONTAINER [75] Inventor: Rupert M. Starrett,Stratford, Conn.

[73] Assignee: The Risdon Manufacturing Company, Naugatuck, Conn.

[22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 535,963

[52] US. Cl. 222/402.1l [51] Int. Cl. B67D 5/32 [58] Field of Search222/4021], 518; 137/508 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,158,292 11/1964 ODonnell ZZZ/402.11 X 3,827,605 8/1974 KnickerbockerZZZ/402.11 X

Primary ExaminerStanley l-I. Tollberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmSt. OngeMayers Steward & Reens [57] ABSTRACT A safety closure assembly isdisclosed for capping a container equipped with reciprocating dispensingmeans including an actuating stem projecting out of one end of thecontainer, and for operating the dispensing means. Performance ofmultiple functions is a requisite to operation of the dispensing meansby this closure assembly which includes an overcap, an actuatorassociated with the overcap and having a keying element, a lockingmember in the overcap and urged to a locking position, a cam adapted tobe nonrotatively mounted on the container for operating the lockingmember, and a collar having complementary keying element. The lockingmember, the actuator and the collar cooperate to render the assemblyinoperative until the locking member is moved radially outwardly awayfrom its locking position by coaction with the cam and, subsequently,until the overcap is rotated relative to the container until the collarand actuator keying elements are aligned. The locking member is cockedin a non-locking position by a latch and catch arrangement upon relativerotation of the cap and container, but is restored to its lockingposition each time the actuator is operated.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 1 of 23,924,782

FIG. 4

US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,924,782

FIG. ll FIG. l2 FIG. l3

SAFETY CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR CAPPING A DISPENSING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention isdirected more particularly to a safety closure assembly for capping anaerosol container that is equipped with a vertical action dispensingvalve having a valve stem projecting from one end of the container. Thissafety closure is further intended to operate the dispensing valvethrough the valve stem.

Aerosol containers are commonly used to store fluid consumer productsfor use in the home and are readily available at supermarkets and otherretail stores. However, some contents such as pesticides, paints,disinfectants, lubricants, and household cleaners frequently packaged insuch containers may be corrosive or poisonous and are, therefore,dangerous to human health if misused. Injury could result if these typesof products are ingested or sprayed on the skin or in the eyes. Sinceaerosol containers holding liquids of the general types described aboveare used in the home, small children often have or can gain access tothem.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide aerosol containers or productspotentially dangerous if misused with a closure assembly which deters orprevents dispensing of the contents by small children. However, such aclosure assembly should be easily operable by an adult to dispense thecontents when actually needed.

Frequently, an authorized operator of an aerosol container having asafety closure device will forget to reset the device after use andthereby facilitate subsequent unauthorized operation. Thus, it is alsodesirable that such a closure assembly automatically reset itself toprevent unauthorized dispensing after each use.

It is frequnetly desirable to package pharmaceutical products in aerosolcontainers equipped with a metering valve to measure the amount ofproduct dispensed on each valve actuation. In such cases it would be ofadvantage .to incorporate means that would require the user consciouslyto perform an unlocking operation after each valve actuation, whereby tominimize inadvertent over-dosage of the pharmaceutical product.

2. Description of the Prior Art Closure assemblies for aerosolcontainers of fluid products which include provision to render theclosure assemblies inoperative to dispense the containers contents arepresently known. One such closure assembly, disclosed in US. Pat. No.3,240,397, employs a temporary breakable protective cover initiallymounted over the actuator tab. A second assembly disclosed in US. Pat.No. 3,5 39,078 incorporates breakable tie-strips interconnecting thevalve actuator tab and adjacent portions of the overcap. However, oncesuch breakable components are fractured, no further protection againstunauthorized or unintentional operation of the dispenser valve isprovided.

Other closure assemblies intended to prohibit unauthorized operation ofan aerosol dispenser valve require manual positioning or coordinating ofactuating members in order to render the valve operative. Generally,such arrangements require the user to manually move an actuating memberfrom an inoperative to an operative position, for example, by rotatingthe actuating member between fixed stops carried by some relativelystationary member such as an overcap. Examples of such an arrangementare disclosed in US. Pat. No.

2 3.050,2l9 and 3,484,023. A sliding or reciprocating valve actuatingmember, such as that shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,386,631 and 3,610,479 hasalso been employed to deactivate the actuator. However, by simplyplaying with such devices, a child may accidentally condition theminoperative position.

A removable and replaceable locking member is illustrated in US. Pat.No. 3,158,292 However, such a locking member may be lost or forgotten tobe replaced.

US. Pat. No. 3,722,748 discloses a childsafe actuator overcap includinga collar having a keying element and a valve actuator member having acomplementary keying element which must be visually aligned to renderthe dispenser valve operative. In this device, unless the authorizeduser consciously resets the keying elements in safe relation after eachuse, continued operation of the dispenser is possible. I

Other aerosol container closure safety mechanisms are disclosed in US.Pat. Nos. 3,651,993, 3,722,748, 3,729,119, 3,734,354, 3,744,682,3,754,689, 3,802,607 and 3,828,982, as well as in copending patentapplication Ser. No. 483,162, filed July 26, 1974, in the name of Roy S.Swenson.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In thepreferred embodiment of the presentinvention, to be described below in detail, the safety closure assemblyis designed to close an aerosol container equipped with a verticalaction dispensing valve having a valve actuating stem projecting fromone end of the container, and is further designed to operate the,dispensing valve through the valve stem. Performance of a multistepsequence of functions is a requisite to operation of the dispensingvalve by this closure assembly. The assembly includes a collar adaptedto be non-rotatively mounted about the valve stem on the valved end ofthe container. This collar is provided with a first keying element. Anovercap member is adapted to be relatively rotatably mounted on thevalved end of the container to enclose that end, and is equipped with avalve actuator forming part of the overcap. The valve actuator has adischarge orifice and a socket opening, adapted to receive theprojecting end of the valve stem, interconnected to the dischargeorifice. This actuator also'has a depending stop and a second keyingelement which is complementary to the first keying element disposed onthe collar.

A locking member in the form of an elongate, resilient, flexible fingeris cantilevered in the interior of the overcap and has a cam followerwhich is operatively engaged, upon rotating the overcap, by a caminstalled in non-rotative condition on the container. This resilientlocking finger is formed with an upstanding latch pin adapted to engagea depending catch partition in the overcap to hold the locking finger inan unlocked or cocked position. The natural resilience of the lockingfinger urges it between the depending valve actuator stop and the collarwhen the latch pin is disengaged from the catch partition, therebylimiting depression of the valve actuator and preventing operativeengagement with the valve stem.

Rotation of the overcap relative to the aerosol container, and hencerelative to the collar and cam, moves the locking tab radially.outwardly to engage the latch pin on the catch partition to retract thelocking finger from between the collar and the stop. Further rotation ineither direction of the overcap permits alignment of the complementarykeying elements to allow depression of the valve actuator to operate thedispensing valve through the valve stem. The valve actuator may beformed with a sighting aperture and the collar may be provided with acomplementary visual index to facilitate alignment of the keyingelements.

The valve actuator is also provided with a boss which contacts theresilient locking finger, whenever the valve is operated, to disengageits latch pin from the catch partition. This operation automaticallyresets the locking finger after each use, permitting it to again beurged to its locked position between the valve actuator stop and thecollar, preventing subsequent depression of the valve actuator and,hence, operation of the dispensing valve until the proper steps aretaken to recondition the closure assembly.

The safety closure assembly of the present invention provides severaladvantages. Since a multistep sequence of functions must be performedbefore this safety closure assembly is capable of operating thedispensing valve, chances of a child or other unauthorized user gainingaccess to the containers contents are minimized. Mechanical and visualfunctions, difficult for a small child to recognize, are combined andmust be coordinated to render this safety closure operable. Inparticular, the locking finger can only be operated by rotating theovercap, moving this finger relative to the container to produceinteraction of the cam and cam lobe. An audible click is produced whenthe finger is retracted from its locking position and its latch pin isengaged on the catch partition in the overcap.'In addition, completionof this mechanical function may be sensed by feel when rotating theovercap. Nevertheless, mere performance of this first mechanicalfunction still will not permit access to the contents of the aerosolcontainer. The further function, completion of which is indicatedvisually, must then be performed to provide access. In particular, theovercap must be further rotated until the index is visually sightedthrough the aperture in the valve actuator to align the complementarykeying elements on the collar and valve actuator. Thus, only after boththe mechanically and visually indicated functions are performed can thevalve actuator be operated to dispense the contents of the container.

Though small children have difficulty recognizing and then coordinatingthe functions necessary to operate the safety enclosure assembly of thepresent invention, adults may do so with relative ease.

The closure assembly of the present invention automatically resets tolocked condition after each use of the valve actuator. Thus, an adultuser cannot forget to reset this safety closure, and cannot leave it inan operative condition after he has used it. Additionally, all operativecomponents of this safety closure assembly are contained inside or arecovered by the overcap so as not to be easily accessible. No separateremovable blocking members are employed. Therefore, no components may belost or neglected to be replaced.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aunique and novel safety closure assembly for closing an aerosolcontainer equipped with a dispensing valve having a valve actuatingstern projecting from one end of the container whereby to operate thevalve by reciprocation of its stem, performance of a multistep sequenceof functions being a prerequisite to operation of the dispensing valveby the closure assembly.

Other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will bepointed out in, or will be understood,

from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiment providedbelow, considered together with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of the safety closure assembly of the present invention installedon an aerosol container equipped with a dispensing valve and valveactuating stern projecting from one end of that container;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the valve actuator-overcap assembly;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on discontinuous plane33 of FIG. 2, illustrating the valve actuator hinged on the overcap andthe locking finger mounted in cantilever fashion from the interior wallof the overcap;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the valve actuatorovercap assembly;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on plane 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on plane 66 in FIG. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the locking fingerin its unlocked position and, in phantom lines, a portion of thecontainer and collar;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on plane 77 in FIG. 6looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being broken away oromitted for greater clarity of illustration of the operativerelationship of the locking finger, cam and cam lobe;

FIG. 8 through 10 are enlarged fragmentary views similar to that of FIG.7, showing parts in different operated positions; and

FIGS. 1 1 through 13 are enlarged fragmentary views similar to that ofFIG. 6, showing in elevation the parts in different operated positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates the preferredembodiment of the safety closure assembly of the present invention,generally indicated at 10, installed on an aerosol container 12 whichstores liquid contents under pressure to be dispensed as needed by theintended user.

Aerosol container 12 is generally designed to be hand held and theclosure assembly is designed to be hand operated to dispense the liquidcontents as will be described in greater detail below. The container isequipped with any standard type of vertically actuated aerosol valveassembly which includes a valve stem 14 which when depressed operates adispensing valve mounted inside the container to allow dispensing of thepressurized contents in well known manner. This valve assembly issupported by a standard ferrule or cup installed in the mouth of thecontainer to close the latter by crimping the lip of the cup to themargin of the container mouth, forming an upstanding annular rim. Ashereafter explained, this rim is used as a convenient means of mountingthe closure assembly of this invention, although other arrangements arepossible.

An injection molded actuator-overcap assembly 16 is snap-fitted to thismounting cup rim and substantially encloses the valved end of theaerosol container. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this assembly 16 includesan overcap portion 18 and valve actuator member 20 integrally formedwith the overcap as a tab hinged to a side wall of the overcap. Theovercap is also formed on its top with a curved depression 22 in which afinger of the human hand may be comfortably rested and guided to thevalve actuator. A curved recess 24 is formed in the front face of theovercap 18 to provide an open path for liquid dispensed from thedischarge nozzle of the closure assembly. As seen in FIG. 2, the overcapis slotted at 26 to define the resiliently hinged valve actuator tab 20,the hinge being located at the tab juncture 28 with the side wall of theovercap and the tab being thus biased to assume a slightly elevatedposition.

As shown in FIG. 1 and in greater detail in FIGS. 4 and 11 through 13,the valve actuator tab has a front face 30 which is formed with adischarge orifice 32 that communicates internally with a valve stemsocket 34. A depending hollow boss or hub 36 encircles valve stem socket34 and is positioned to be generally co-axial with valve stem 14. Hub 36may be formed with a generally conical inner surface to guide actuatingtab 20 and its socket 34 into alignment with the valve stem when theactuating tab is depressed.

A depending cylindrical skirt 38 is formed in the interior of overcap 18and has an inwardly directed angular retaining lip 40 positioned at itslower margin. Lip 40 snaps over the rim (see FIG. 6) of the valve cup.In this manner, the overcap is retained on the container to preventaxial disengagement of the two, yet rotation of the overcap relative tothe container about the containers axis is permitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 6, and 11 through 13, valve actuator tab 20 isformed with side walls 42 which flank hub 36. At least one of these sidewalls further serves as a stop in a manner described in greater detailbelow.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the valve stem is housed in and projectsaxially through a pedestal 44 which is formed as a central protuberanceof the standard valve ferrule. A collar 46 is non-rotatively mountedabout pedestal 44 so that rotation of the container assures rotation ofthe collar. This mount may be achieved, for example, by press-fittingthe collar onto the pedestal. An upstanding cam lobe 48 shown in FIG. 8through 13, is formed with or mounted on collar 46.

A lock member in the form of an elongate, resilient, finger 50 ismounted within overcap 18, a free end of which projects into the gapnormally existing between the top surface of collar 46 and the bottomedge of the side wall 42 of valve actuator tab 20. Overcap 18 isprovided on its interior surface with a dovetail socket 52, and lockingfinger 50 is formed with a complementary dovetail tongue 54 which isinserted into the socket to mount the locking finger 50 in cantileverfashion relative to the cap wall.

Locking finger 50 is normally urged, as mentioned above, between thestop 42 and the collar 46 to limit depression of the valve actuator tab20, clearance for this being provided by the raised position of actuatortab 20 to which it is normally biased. If depression of the tab isattempted, the under edge of wall 42 acts as a stop by abutting againstthe finger which in turn abuts the top surface of collar 46. As shown inFIGS. 11 through 13, the vertical thickness of the locking finger 50 ischosen so that the limited depression which it permits is insufficientto operate the valve stem 14 and hence the dispensing valve.

Locking finger 50 is mounted so that the natural resilience of thematerial from which it is made urges it into its locking position, asshown in FIGS. 9 and 13.

For example, this finger may be manufactured from resilient materialsuch as spring steel or plastic which causes it to return to its presetposition after being flexed from that position. Additionally, thelocking finger is formed with a cam follower surface 56 adapted to coactwith cam lobe 48 upon relative rotation between the two, to urge thelocking finger 50 away from interposed condition relative to collar 46and stop 42. This is indicated by arrow A in FIG. 10, occurring when thecam follower is contacted by lobe 48 by rotating the overcap relative tothe container.

As can be seen in FIGS. 11 through 13, the locking finger 50 is formedat its free end with an upstanding latch pin 58 having a beveled face60, and pin 58 interacts with the under edge of a depending partition 62flanking side walls 42 of the actuator to form a catch arrangement forlatching finger 50 in retracted position. Obviously the bevel could beplaced instead on the partition, or both finger 50 and partition 62could be beveled. When the locking finger is moved radially outwardly bythe interaction of cam lobe 48 and cam follower 56, it is cammeddownward by the interaction of beveled surface 60 against the lower edgeof partition 62. Once the pin is moved back of the partition, thenatural resilience of the finger causes it to spring upward, so thatlatch pin 58 firmly engages and is retained by catch partition 62. Thisrelationship is best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 11, in which conditionthe locking finger is said to be in cocked or armed condition.

The safety closure assembly of the present invention further includes asecond construction which also inhibits unauthorized operation of thedispensing valve, even if the aforesaid cocked condition should exist.As shown in FIG. 7 through 13, the cylindrical wall portion of collar 46projects axially above pedestal 44. A notch 64 is let into the .upperedge of this collar wall, and valve actuator hub 36, in turn, is formedwith a complementary web or rib 66 which projects radially outwardly.This rib extends generally axially relative to the hub and has athickness which permits its insertion into the notch 64 when the two arevertically aligned and the actuator tab is depressed. Notch 64 and rib66 constitute complementary keying elements which permit completedepression of the actuating tab to engage the valve stem.only whenproperly registered. Such registration is achieved by rotating theovercap, and hence the actuator tab and rib 66, relative to thecontainer and collar 46. The degree of accuracy of registration requiredmay be readily controlled by the relative widths of the notch and key.

When the notch and rib are not aligned, downward depression of theactuator cap causes the bottom surface of the rib to abut the topunnotched surface portion of the collar, even if finger 50 is in cockedposition. Accordingly, the height of the collar and the rib are chosenso that downward movement is limited by this abutting relation toprevent operation of the dispensing valve through valve stem 14.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the valve actuator tab 20 is formed with asighting aperture 68. An index, which may be colored insert, is providedon the collar which when sighted through the sighting aperture 68indicates alignment of the keying elements, namely notch 64 and rib 66.In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the verticallyupstanding cam lobe 48, which is desirably colored differently than thecollar itself, is made use of for this purpose, the lobe thus serving a7 dual function.

The illustrated embodiment of the safety closure assembly of the presentinvention functions as follows. In its normal position with componentsassuming positions to prevent unauthorized operation of the dispensingvalve, locking finger 50 is, as previously described, urged between stop42 and the top surface of collar 46 to limit depression of the actuatortab within an inoperative range in respect to the valve (FIG. 13). Thekeying elements, namely notch 64 and rib 66, may or may not be inregistry at this point, but the dispenser is still in safe conditionsince the intervention of the locking finger 50 renders the actuator tabinoperative.

With the safety closure assembly in this locked configuration, the userconditions it for operation by first rotating the overcap relative tothe container to effect the aforesaid caming action between cam lobe 48and cam follower 56 to condition locking finger 50 in the cockedposition, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 11.

For maximum safety it is obvious that the collar should be constructedso that the interfitting notch and rib are not in registry immediatelyafter the locking finger has been cocked. The operator then rotates theovercap relative to the container to bring the rib into interfittingalignment with the collar notch, as indicated by visual alignment of theindex through the sighting aperture of the tab. This condition isillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 11. The valve actuator tab may now bedepressed to operate the dispensing valve by depressing valve stem 14.

In addition to requiring the foregoing multistep sequence of functionsto be properly performed to operate an aerosol container dispensingvalve, the safety closure of the present invention reconditions itselfautomatically with each operation to relock itself by resetting orreleasing the locking finger 50 from latched condition upon depressionof the valve actuator tab 20. This reset operation is best illustratedwith reference to FIGS. 11 through 13. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, whichrepresent the previously described cocked and aligned position, sidewall 42 overlies the inwardly projecting tip of the cam follower portionon locking finger 50. Thus, when valve actuating tab is depressed, asindicated by arrow C in FIG. 12, the under edge of wall 42 acts as apressure pad contacting the locking finger 50 to disengage the latch pinfrom the catch partition, as shown by arrow D. Further, when the valveactuating tab 20 is subsequently released, as indicated by arrow E inFIG. 13, the locking finger automatically returns to its interposedlocked position, as indicated by arrow F, due to its resilience. Eventhough the notch 64 and rib 66 are still aligned at this point, thelocking finger 50 functions to inhibit downward depression of the valveactuator to operate the valve stem 14. It is, of course, desirable torotate the overcap relative to the container, in order to move the notchand rib out of registry after valve actuation. However, even if the userforgets to do this, the locking finger 50 still performs an effectivelocking function and a subsequent user cannot operate the valve untilthe multistep sequence of unlocking functions is performed properly.

The safety enclosure assembly of the present invention, then, providesseveral unique and novel advantages. It requires properperformance of amultistep sequence of functions before the closure assembly isconditioned to permit operating the dispenser valve of the aerosolcontainer. Two of these are manual, involving first mechanical cockingof the locking arm. In the performance of this an audible signal isgiven by the snapover of the latch pin on the partition, and this mayalso be felt through the overcap. Successful completion of the secondmanual function, which also involves rotation of the cap, is indicatedvisually. Accordingly it is extremely difficult for a small child torecognize and successfully coordinate performance of these mechanicaland visual functions to operate the dispenser valve of an aerosolcontainer on which such a closure assembly is installed. However, adultscan do so with relative ease.

This closure assembly is automatically reset in an inoperative lockedposition after each use of the valve actuator tab to dispense contentsof the aerosol container. Therefore, even if the user forgets to resetit, the closure assembly is conditioned in safe position. Moreover, theclosure assembly is completely self contained and does not include anyremovable and replaceable blocking or locking elements. Therefore, nocomponents of this closure assembly are exposed to be misplaced.

Although a specific embodimentof the present invention has beendisclosed in detail above for application to aerosol containers, it isto be understood that this is for purposes of illustration since theconcept of the invention is also applicable to other types of consumerproduct dispensers such as those using manual pumps for delivering thecontainer contents. This disclosure should accordingly not be construedas limiting the scope of the invention since changes can be made to thedescribed safety closure assembly structures by those skilled in the artin order to adapt this assembly to particular applications.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety closure assembly for capping an end of a container equippedwith dispensing means having an actuating stem projecting from that endof the container, and for operating the actuating stem to dispenseproduct from the container, performance of two functions being arequisite to operation of the dispensing means, said closure assemblycomprising:

a collar adapted to be non-rotatively mounted about the actuating stemof the container, said collar having a keying element;

cam means, also adapted to be non-rotatively mounted about the actuatingstem and having at least one projecting cam lobe;

an overcap member for enclosing the actuating stem of the container andequipped with catch means in its interior, said cap having means formounting it on the end of the container for rotation relative to saidcollar and cam means;

stem actuator means associated with said overcap member having adischarge orifice and a socket opening, adapted to receive the end ofsaid actuator stern, interconnected to said discharge orifice, saidactuator means also having a pressure pad and a keying elementcomplementary to said collar element;

a locking member mounted in the interior of said overcap and biased to anormal locking position, said locking member having a cam followeroperatively engaged by said cam means upon rotation of said overcap wheninstalled on the container, and latch means to engage said catch meansand retain the locking member against return to its normal biasedposition, said locking member normally assuming a position between saidpressure pad and said collar when said latch means is disengaged fromsaid catch means to limit depression of said stem actuator means;

whereby rotation of said overcap member relative to said collar and cammeans moves said locking member radially outwardly to retract saidlocking member from between said collar and said stop means and intoengagement with said catch means, and whereby further rotation permitsalignment of said keying elements to allow depression of said stemactuator means, said keying elements, except when thus aligned,cooperating to block depression of said stem actuator means relative tosaid overcap; and

reset means associated with said stern actuator means for disengagingsaid latch means from said catch means upon depression of said stemactuator means, allowing said locking member to return to blockingposition between said actuator pressure pad and said collar.

2. The safety closure assembly for a container as claimed in claim 1,wherein said locking member is an elongate resilient finger,cantilevered in the interior of said overcap member and having a freeend urged into blocking position between said actuator pressure pad andsaid collar.

3. The safety closure assembly for a container as claimed in claim 1,wherein said catch means is a depending partition mounted in theinterior of said overcap member and said latch means is an upstandingpin formed on the free end of said finger and adapted to latch behindsaid partition.

4. The safety closure assembly for a container as claimed in claim 1,wherein said catch means is a depending partition mounted in theinterior of said overcap member, said locking member is an elongateresilient finger and said latch means is an upstanding pin formed on oneend of said finger which when positioned to one side of said partitionretains said finger against biased return to its said normal position,and wherein said reset means is said actuator pressure pad which engagessaid locking finger at its free end and to disengage said pin from saidpartition when said stern actuator is depressed.

5. The safety closure assembly for a container as claimed in claim 4,wherein either said upstanding pin or said under edge of said dependingpartition has a sloping face adapted to engage the other and to cam thepin into latching position behind said partition when said finger ismoved radially outwardly by said cam lobe.

6. The safety closure assembly for a container as claimed in claim 1,wherein said keying elements are positioned on said actuator and collarso as to require rotation of said overcap member relative to thecontainer, in addition to that required to engage said latch, to alignsaid complementary keying elements.

7. A safety closure assembly for enclosing an end of an aerosolcontainer equipped with a dispensing valve and a valve stem projectingfrom that end of the container, performance of two functions beingrequisite to 10 operation of the dispensing valve, said closure assemblycomprising:

a collar, adapted to be non-rotatively mounted above the valve stem onthe valved end of the container, having a keying element;

cam means, also adapted to be non-rotatively mounted about the valvestem on the valved end of the container, having at least one radiallyoutwardly projecting lobe;

an overcap member for enclosing the valved end of the container andequipped with catch means in the form of a depending partition in itsinterior;

means for rotatively mounting said overcap member relative to saidcollar and. said cam means on the valved end of the container;

valve actuator means associated with said overcap member having adischarge orifice and a socket opening adapted to receive the valve stemand interconnected to said discharge orifice, also having depending stopmeans and a keying element complementary to 'said collar keying element;

a locking member in the form of an elongate resilient finger mounted inthe interior of said overcap and being resiliently urged between saidstop means and collar to limit depression of said valve actuator means,also having a cam follower operatively engageable by said cam means whensaid overcap is rotated on the container, and a latch pin formed on saidfinger adapted to engage one side of said partition of latch said fingerin retracted position relative to said stop means and collar;

whereby rotation of said overcap member relative to said collar and cammeans moves said finger radially outwardly to retract said finger frombetween said collar and stop means until said latch pin is engaged andretained by said partition, and whereby further rotation permitsalignment of said keying elements to allow depression of said valveactuator means, said keying elements, except when thus aligned, alsocooperating; to block depression of said valve actuator means relativeto said overcap; and

reset means associated with said valve actuator means for disengagingsaid latch pin from engagement with said partition after depression ofsaid valve actuator means, allowing said finger to return to blockingposition between said stop means and said collar.

8. The safety closure assembly for closing and operating an aerosolcontainer as claimed in claim 7 wherein said reset means is a pressure:pad associated with said valve actuator means for pressing said tabdownward to effect the disengagement of said pin from said partitionwhen said valve actuator is depressed.

9. The safety closure assembly for closing and operating an aerosolcontainer as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pin has an inclined surfaceto cam said pin over an edge of said partition when said finger is movedradially outwardly by said cam lobe.

1. A safety closure assembly for capping an end of a container equippedwith dispensing means havinG an actuating stem projecting from that endof the container, and for operating the actuating stem to dispenseproduct from the container, performance of two functions being arequisite to operation of the dispensing means, said closure assemblycomprising: a collar adapted to be non-rotatively mounted about theactuating stem of the container, said collar having a keying element;cam means, also adapted to be non-rotatively mounted about the actuatingstem and having at least one projecting cam lobe; an overcap member forenclosing the actuating stem of the container and equipped with catchmeans in its interior, said cap having means for mounting it on the endof the container for rotation relative to said collar and cam means;stem actuator means associated with said overcap member having adischarge orifice and a socket opening, adapted to receive the end ofsaid actuator stem, interconnected to said discharge orifice, saidactuator means also having a pressure pad and a keying elementcomplementary to said collar element; a locking member mounted in theinterior of said overcap and biased to a normal locking position, saidlocking member having a cam follower operatively engaged by said cammeans upon rotation of said overcap when installed on the container, andlatch means to engage said catch means and retain the locking memberagainst return to its normal biased position, said locking membernormally assuming a position between said pressure pad and said collarwhen said latch means is disengaged from said catch means to limitdepression of said stem actuator means; whereby rotation of said overcapmember relative to said collar and cam means moves said locking memberradially outwardly to retract said locking member from between saidcollar and said stop means and into engagement with said catch means,and whereby further rotation permits alignment of said keying elementsto allow depression of said stem actuator means, said keying elements,except when thus aligned, cooperating to block depression of said stemactuator means relative to said overcap; and reset means associated withsaid stem actuator means for disengaging said latch means from saidcatch means upon depression of said stem actuator means, allowing saidlocking member to return to blocking position between said actuatorpressure pad and said collar.
 2. The safety closure assembly for acontainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking member is anelongate resilient finger, cantilevered in the interior of said overcapmember and having a free end urged into blocking position between saidactuator pressure pad and said collar.
 3. The safety closure assemblyfor a container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said catch means is adepending partition mounted in the interior of said overcap member andsaid latch means is an upstanding pin formed on the free end of saidfinger and adapted to latch behind said partition.
 4. The safety closureassembly for a container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said catch meansis a depending partition mounted in the interior of said overcap member,said locking member is an elongate resilient finger and said latch meansis an upstanding pin formed on one end of said finger which whenpositioned to one side of said partition retains said finger againstbiased return to its said normal position, and wherein said reset meansis said actuator pressure pad which engages said locking finger at itsfree end and to disengage said pin from said partition when said stemactuator is depressed.
 5. The safety closure assembly for a container asclaimed in claim 4, wherein either said upstanding pin or said underedge of said depending partition has a sloping face adapted to engagethe other and to cam the pin into latching position behind saidpartition when said finger is moved radially outwardly by said cam lobe.6. The safety closure assembly for a container as claimed in claim 1,wherein said keying elements are positioned on said actUator and collarso as to require rotation of said overcap member relative to thecontainer, in addition to that required to engage said latch, to alignsaid complementary keying elements.
 7. A safety closure assembly forenclosing an end of an aerosol container equipped with a dispensingvalve and a valve stem projecting from that end of the container,performance of two functions being requisite to operation of thedispensing valve, said closure assembly comprising: a collar, adapted tobe non-rotatively mounted above the valve stem on the valved end of thecontainer, having a keying element; cam means, also adapted to benon-rotatively mounted about the valve stem on the valved end of thecontainer, having at least one radially outwardly projecting lobe; anovercap member for enclosing the valved end of the container andequipped with catch means in the form of a depending partition in itsinterior; means for rotatively mounting said overcap member relative tosaid collar and said cam means on the valved end of the container; valveactuator means associated with said overcap member having a dischargeorifice and a socket opening adapted to receive the valve stem andinterconnected to said discharge orifice, also having depending stopmeans and a keying element complementary to said collar keying element;a locking member in the form of an elongate resilient finger mounted inthe interior of said overcap and being resiliently urged between saidstop means and collar to limit depression of said valve actuator means,also having a cam follower operatively engageable by said cam means whensaid overcap is rotated on the container, and a latch pin formed on saidfinger adapted to engage one side of said partition of latch said fingerin retracted position relative to said stop means and collar; wherebyrotation of said overcap member relative to said collar and cam meansmoves said finger radially outwardly to retract said finger from betweensaid collar and stop means until said latch pin is engaged and retainedby said partition, and whereby further rotation permits alignment ofsaid keying elements to allow depression of said valve actuator means,said keying elements, except when thus aligned, also cooperating toblock depression of said valve actuator means relative to said overcap;and reset means associated with said valve actuator means fordisengaging said latch pin from engagement with said partition afterdepression of said valve actuator means, allowing said finger to returnto blocking position between said stop means and said collar.
 8. Thesafety closure assembly for closing and operating an aerosol containeras claimed in claim 7 wherein said reset means is a pressure padassociated with said valve actuator means for pressing said tab downwardto effect the disengagement of said pin from said partition when saidvalve actuator is depressed.
 9. The safety closure assembly for closingand operating an aerosol container as claimed in claim 7 wherein saidpin has an inclined surface to cam said pin over an edge of saidpartition when said finger is moved radially outwardly by said cam lobe.